Randwick, Newcastle best bets, inside mail for Thursday, December 26, 2024

The Chris Waller-trained Vanessi made amends for her first-up defeat with a big win at Canterbury and can make two in-a-row when she head to Randwick.

Vanessi can make it back-to-back wins when she heads to Randwick. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Randwick and best bet for Newcastle on Thursday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

RANDWICK

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 6: Vanessi

Impressive win last start and hard to beat again.

“VANESSI streaking clear…wins brilliantly” 🎙️ The 3 year old daughter of Too Darn Hot dropped back to 1100m second up and breaks her maiden with a perfect @nashhot ride! @cwallerracing@[e-mail]/Yr3GQ8TjOq

— Star Thoroughbreds (@StarTbreds) December 13, 2024

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 5: Winston Hills

Progressive horse who was good winning first-up.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 7: Omnic

Has had tough runs in his three starts back. Due for a change of luck.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 5, 6, 10

Race 6: 1, 6, 8

Race 7: 6, 8, 11

Race 8: 3, 5

Jason Collett will be popular in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jason Collett will be hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

NEWCASTLE

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 5: Spicy Hotpot

Scored a first-up win last time in. Trialling impressively.

INSIDE MAIL – RANDWICK

RACE 1

Endure settled back and was the widest on the bend before running home strongly to finish a neck second to Burj on debut at Newcastle on Dec 1. Gets a nice run from the gate and can go one better. Sunshine Law lost her position near approaching the 600m on debut when fifth to It’s A Knockout on the Kensington. Handy effort to finish runner-up at her next two. Trials have been nice. Blue Vein was a handy second to Fearless on debut back in March. Has won both recent trials and will be prominent.

Bet: Endure to win

RACE 2

Queen’s Rhapsody deserves a breakthrough win after placing second in all three runs. Was spelled after her debut behind to Sakina in July. Tried hard but couldn’t catch Flying For Fun first-up at Canterbury and bumped into the very exciting Gerringong there last start. Crepe Myrtle got too far back on debut behind Flying For Fun before tracking the leader when a nose second to Alinea on the Kensington. Good chance. Alliri was narrowly beaten in two Super Maidens before a third to Alinea on the Kensington.

Bet: Queen’s Rhapsody to win

That was impressive! 🔵⚪

Gerringong sprouted wings late under @clarkyhk and wins on debut for @GaiWaterhouse1 + some rugby league legends! pic.twitter.com/YJmNt106Wq

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 29, 2024

RACE 3

Omnic has been caught wide for a portion or the entire trip in each of his three runs back. Managed to get outside the leader when a noise second to Rotagilla at Newcastle two runs back. Tough effort three-wide when third to Amusing at Canterbury last start. Altair I Am has run some handy races aside from his two second placings. Gave O Diamond Lil a big start when second at Kembla last start. Blinkers go on. Overland was a handy fourth on debut at Wyong before a third to Tomba at Kembla. Extra trip suits.

Bet: Omnic to win

RACE 4

Tuileries got a long way back before closing for sixth to Froebel Star beaten less than two lengths on debut at Warwick Farm in April. Tracked the speed and raced away for a three length win in a Super Maiden when resuming at Canterbury on Dec 13. It’s a big step up but she looks a quality filly. Drift Net had her chances when placed in each of her four runs this time in. Sure to be prominent again. Imposant goes well fresh and will make her presence felt.

Bet: Tuileries to win

🟣 Bhima Grad Winner 🟣
3YO filly Tuileries (So You Think x Hediard) is in a league of her own, posting a stylish maiden win at start two for @SnowdenRacing1 at Canterbury 🤩

Bred by GSA Bloodstock, she was a @mmsnippets GC buy for her trainers & @wj_bloodstock.

Congrats! pic.twitter.com/nFdl2ulH7q

— Bhima Thoroughbreds (@BhimaTBreds) December 13, 2024

RACE 5

Vanessi was $3.60 into $2.40 at Canterbury first-up when she led before being run down late by stablemate Inside Man who had the drop on her. She returned two weeks later and handed up midrace before exploding in the straight for a three length win. Hard to beat again. Unconquerable was a Caulfield winner on debut. Unplaced in three runs last time on but ran okay. Had a good deal in hand in winning both recent trials. Wide gate is the concern. Art’s Alive resumed with a nice win at Kembla.

Bet: Vanessi to win

RACE 6

Storm The Ramparts finished just over a length behind Jedibeel in second place when resuming in April before going back to the paddock. He scored a nice win over Flying Rani over this trip when resuming the previous campaign. Frilled has been freshened since her sixth to stablemate Headwall in The Warra at Kembla on Nov 23. Has a big weight but drops a lot in grade. Don’t Doubt Merlin was good winning his first two runs back before stepping up to city grade when third to Flying For Fun.

Bet: Storm The Ramparts to win

RACE 7

Townsend led and kicked away on the bend for a big win over Floating at Newcastle two starts back. Missed the jump and settled last before working home well along the rails to finish third behind Floating in the ATC Cup over 2000m at Rosehill last start. Expect him to roll forward and take catching. Floating was wide early and raced keenly when fifth to Kadavar in the Christmas Cup. Terrific efforts before that. Converge ran a better race when splitting Floating and Townsend last start.

Bet: Townsend to win

RACE 8

Winston Hills is an exciting prospect who hasn’t finished worse than second. Stormed home for an impressive first-up win over 1250m at Canterbury. Headley Grange has only finished outside the top four once. Is unbeaten first-up and has placed in both runs over 1300m. Jambalaya was held up behind the and only got clear in the last 25m when second to Zealously at Canterbury last start. Has place claims.

Bet: Winston Hills to win